Aria didn't sleep.
Not even for a second.
---
The kiss.
The truth.
The betrayal.
It replayed over and over in her mind like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.
---
By morning—
Her decision was made.
---
She was leaving.
---
Quietly, she slipped out of the massive bed she hadn't really used. The room still felt unfamiliar… like it didn't belong to her.
Like *nothing* here ever would.
---
She didn't bother changing.
Didn't take anything.
She wasn't staying long enough to need it.
---
"Just get out," she whispered to herself.
---
The penthouse was silent.
Too silent.
---
Aria walked quickly through the long hallway, her heartbeat echoing in her ears with every step.
No staff.
No Ethan.
No sign that anyone was watching.
---
*Good.*
---
She reached the elevator.
Pressed the button.
Waited.
---
Each second felt too long.
Too loud.
Too dangerous.
---
**Ding.**
---
The doors slid open.
---
Relief flooded her chest.
---
She stepped inside quickly and pressed the lobby button.
The doors began to close—
---
"Going somewhere?"
---
Her heart dropped.
---
The doors stopped.
---
A hand appeared between them.
Strong.
Unmoving.
---
Then slowly—
They slid open again.
---
A man stood there.
Tall.
Dressed in black.
Expression unreadable.
---
Aria stepped back instinctively.
"Who are you?"
---
"I work for Mr. Blackwood."
---
Of course.
---
Her stomach twisted.
"I need to leave."
---
"I'm afraid that's not possible."
---
Her frustration snapped.
"What do you mean it's not possible?! Move!"
---
She tried to step past him—
---
He blocked her.
Effortlessly.
---
"Please return to the penthouse, ma'am."
---
"I'm not staying here!" she shot back, panic rising. "You can't keep me here!"
---
His expression didn't change.
"You signed a contract."
---
"I was forced!"
---
"That does not change the terms."
---
Her chest tightened.
This wasn't just control anymore.
---
This was a cage.
---
"I don't care about the contract," she said, her voice shaking but firm. "Move."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
"I can't do that."
---
Something inside her broke.
---
"Then I'll go another way."
---
Before he could react—
She turned and ran.
---
Down the hallway.
Past the glass walls.
Toward the one place she had noticed earlier—
---
The balcony.
---
The wind hit her instantly as she pushed the doors open.
Cold.
Strong.
Free.
---
Rain had started again.
---
The city stretched endlessly below her.
Lights glowing.
Life moving.
Freedom so close—
and yet impossibly far.
---
Her breathing was uneven as she stepped forward.
---
"Stop."
---
His voice came from behind her.
---
Ethan.
---
Of course.
---
Aria didn't turn around.
"I'm leaving."
---
"No, you're not."
---
Her hands clenched at her sides.
---
"I meant what I said," she continued, her voice trembling. "I won't stay with someone who destroyed my family."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
"Turn around."
---
"No."
---
Another step forward.
Closer to the edge.
---
The wind pulled at her hair, her clothes—
like it was trying to drag her away from him.
---
"Aria."
---
Her name.
Low.
Dangerous.
---
Still—
She didn't move.
---
"Do you think I won't jump?" she asked quietly.
---
Silence.
---
Then—
"You won't."
---
Her chest tightened.
---
"You don't know that."
---
"I do."
---
Finally—
She turned.
---
Ethan stood just a few steps away.
Calm.
Controlled.
Watching her like he already knew the outcome.
---
That made something inside her burn.
---
"You think you understand me?" she demanded.
---
"I understand enough."
---
"Then understand this," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "I'd rather fall than stay trapped with you."
---
For the first time—
His expression shifted.
---
Not anger.
Not control.
---
Something sharper.
---
Fear.
---
It was brief.
Barely there.
But she saw it.
---
And it shocked her.
---
"Come back inside," he said, his voice lower now.
Not a command.
---
Something else.
---
"No."
---
The rain fell harder.
---
"I'm serious, Aria."
---
"So am I."
---
Another step back.
Closer to the edge.
---
Ethan moved instantly.
---
Fast.
Decisive.
---
His hand caught her wrist before she could react—
pulling her toward him.
---
Aria gasped as she stumbled forward, crashing against his chest.
---
"Let go of me!" she struggled, pushing against him.
---
But he didn't release her.
---
"You're not dying because of me," he said sharply.
---
"Why do you care?!" she shouted, her voice breaking. "You didn't care about my family!"
---
The words hit.
Hard.
---
For a second—
He didn't respond.
---
Then—
"I didn't want this," he said.
---
Her breath caught.
---
"What…?"
---
"This situation," he clarified, his grip tightening slightly. "You. This marriage."
---
Pain twisted in her chest.
---
"Then why did you do it?" she whispered.
---
A long silence.
---
The rain fell between them.
The city blurred behind them.
---
Then—
Ethan said the one thing she wasn't expecting.
---
"Because you were never supposed to come back into my life."
---
Her heart stopped.
---
"…What does that mean?"
---
His gaze locked onto hers.
Deep.
Complicated.
Filled with something she couldn't understand.
---
"It means," he said quietly,
---
"This isn't the first time we've met."
---
Everything froze.
---
"What…?"
---
But before she could ask more—
---
A voice suddenly cut through the rain.
---
"Well… this is dramatic."
---
Both of them turned.
---
And Aria's heart sank.
---
Because standing at the balcony entrance—
watching them with amused eyes—
---
Was Lena.
---
Again.
---
"You always did have a talent for making things messy," she said lightly, stepping inside.
---
Aria's chest tightened.
"What are you doing here?"
---
Lena smiled.
---
"Oh, I live here."
---
Silence.
---
Aria slowly turned to Ethan.
---
Her heart pounding violently.
---
"You said… I'm your wife."
---
A pause.
---
"Then why…"
Her voice dropped.
Shaking.
---
"…is she here?"
---
The tension snapped tight.
---
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
---
And Lena—
---
Lena just smiled wider.
---
*To be continued…*